Reliever Brad Lidge Retires from Baseball

Greg Fiume/Getty Images(NASHVILLE) — Four years after being at the peak of his career, relief pitcher Brad Lidge has decided to retire from Major League Baseball after 11 seasons.

Instead of pursuing another year in baseball, Lidge has informed his agent that he will retire after struggling to stay on the field last season during his stint with the Washington Nationals. He struggled with shoulder and elbow issues recently that affected his performance on the mound.

When he was healthy, Lidge was one of the best closers in baseball. In 2004, he struck out 157 batters (third most by a reliever in history) in just 94.2 innings pitched. His 18 postseason saves is the second most by a reliever in MLB history as well.

While Lidge spent six seasons with the Houston Astros, arguably his finest season came in 2008 with the Philadelphia Phillies. That year, he went 41-for-41 in save opportunities in the regular season, and went 7-for-7 in save opportunities in the posteseason en route to the Phillies first World Series title since 1980.

Lidge retires with 225 career saves with the Astros, Phillies, and Nationals.